The rise of the Internet of Things (IoT) is definitely pushing our technology to a new level. Now, we can combine LED lighting with sensing and data analyzing capabilities. All these bring the LED industry opportunities to connect with future technologies.

LED lighting industry has been developing towards smart lighting in recent years in order to avoid involving in price wars. In the era of IoT, lighting is no longer individual product, but a systematical solution. Manufacturers are trying to enhance the added value of lighting equipment by integrating functions like Internet of Things and ambient sensing. International manufacturers such as Philips, Osram, and Opple Lighting, a Chinese maker, have all invested heavily in smart lighting R&D to lay the foundation for future market.

Wireless infrastructure provider American Tower and Philips Lighting announced that the City of Huntington Beach, CA will provide high capacity mobile connectivity, high quality LED lighting and smart city enablement with the newly developed Smart Fusion Poles. 

Smart lighting has been developed for years, but products and applications are not really used widely. In 2017, however, smart lighting has entered rapid development. According to the latest data of LEDinside, the global smart lighting market reached close to US$4.6 billion in 2017 with an annual growth rate of 95%. The market size is expected to reach US$13.4 billion in 2020.

It’s not a coincidence that multinational lighting conglomerates like Philips Lighting and LEDVANCE have lately been undergoing transformations, including product mix adjustment, more investments in smart lighting, cutting jobs and quitting production related to traditional lighting.

The rise of the Internet of Things has led LED lighting to networked high-value digital lighting. Smart systems can collect information of users and environment, etc., make data analysis, and then adjust devices. Personalized and human-centric smart lighting has become the focus of future industrial development.

The human body reacts to sunlight and darkness by releasing hormones that direct our internal clock, known as our circadian system. Disturbing our internal clock can affect our ability to perform or concentrate and literally puts us at risk for a host of diseases. Recent research indicates that building occupants’ circadian rhythm can be disturbed when they spend long hours indoors without access to the Earth’s natural lighting cycle.  

Some people believe that wireless cannot go the distance for large commercial lighting applications. That is not true. Even with the widespread usage of wireless networks, it is still amazing that there are so many myths about them. That is not a surprise since not everybody has strong IT knowledge. After all, IT can be quite complicated.

Wipro Consumer Care & Lighting, one of the fastest growing FMCG companies in India has launched Wipro Z Nxt, an integrated home automation solution. This system enables the user to transform any ordinary home into a smart home, where the complete household can be controlled from any smart devices, anywhere in the world.

Light influences our lives in many ways including our health, moods, productivity, concentration, sleep cycles, decision making and emotions. With the adoption of smart lighting and IoT, lighting characteristics such as color, intensity and timing can automatically adjust to meet the needs of occupants. For example, in this article by Digital Lumens (now OSRAM), the author states, “In your kids’ elementary school, biometric sensors will track students’ alertness, subtly shifting spectrum to automatically boost their focus any time it starts to wane.”

By focusing on connected lighting solutions and the most comprehensive service offer in the lighting industry, the Zumtobel Group strengthens its position as a service-oriented company and strong partner for its customers. 

Enlighted, a provider of Internet of Things (IoT) solutions for commercial buildings, announced it was named in the prestigious 2018 Global Cleantech 100, produced by CTG (Cleantech Group), whose research and events services keep its audiences and clients in touch with emerging trends, leading innovation companies and all key players in sustainable innovation.

Philips Lighting have installed the first Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) connected lighting system in the Nordics, using Cisco network technology. 

Eric Rondolat, CEO of Philips Lighting, talked briefly about the lighting market in the US during an interview with CNBC.

International Lighting-Design company Klaasen Lighting Design (KLD), which has offices in Singapore, Perth, Shanghai and Jakarta, has entered into a partnership agreement with US based data platform provider Gooee.

The London School of Economics Configuring Light research group and LUCI, the international network of cities on urban lighting, along with Osram, have launched the joint research project "Pathways to Municipal Smart Lighting". It aims to show how municipalities worldwide understand intelligent lighting, how the topic fits into visions and plans for the urban future of towns and cities and how smart lighting can be realised within the framework of specific public policies.

OPTIS, an established software vendor for scientific simulation of light, human vision and physically correct visualization, announces it will debut its SPEOS solution dedicated to the lighting industry, SPEOS Lighting for SOLIDWORKS, at SOLIDWORKS World 2018.

Acuity Brands announced the availability of mobile apps to help make start-up and programming of lighting control networks and sensors from Acuity Brands easier and quicker. Now electrical contractors and other validated users can have the capability to set up and manage indoor lighting controls via their iPhone and Android mobile devices. 

Philips Lighting announced on January 10 that it was letting go of a portion of the employees at its R&D laboratory in Eindhoven, reported DutchNews.nl.

NEPCON JAPAN drew the conclusion on January 19, and the three-day exhibition featured solutions for smart home and intelligent wearables in addition to previously reported automotive electronics and automotive LED components. Other niche LED components and forward-looking LED applications are also eye-catching.

Ketra, a LED lighting manufacturer with the highest quality, most accurate Natural Light, has announced its capability to integrate with Amazon Alexa and plans to integrate with Google Home in February. The news builds on Ketra's recent announcement of integration capability with Crestron and Lutron control systems, making it the first architectural-grade lighting system complete with lamps, controls, and software to enter the smart home market.

LEDVANCE has developed the world’s first LED lighting products that are Bluetooth mesh qualified - the SYLVANIA SMART+ Bluetooth Full Color LED A19 Bulb, Indoor Full Color LED Flex Strip, Soft White Filament LED A19 Bulb and Soft White LED A19 Bulb.

Interlight is the third lighting manufacturer to sign up to the Gooee Platinum Innovation Partner programme. This IoT development partnership enables Interlight full and priority access to the Gooee platform for non-commercial use, dedicated support, access to Beta hardware and full use of the Gooee’s IoT Test Lab for long-term testing.

Wipro Lighting today at its signature event “Light Show 2018” launched its Internet of Lighting (IoL)solutions for Smart& Connected indoor & outdoor lighting.

No two people are created equal, which means experiences at home shouldn't be either. Recognizing every household revolves around a different set of people and routines, GE is focusing its connected home strategy around outcome-driven, smart home lighting designed to light the way you live.  

LEDinside editor visited Shenzhen Moso Power Supply Technology Co., Ltd., one of the leaders of LED power supply industry, and interviewed Mr. Wu Chunxiao, Deputy Marketing GM of Moso on November 21st, 2017, deeply communicating and discussing the current market situation of LED power supply and its future development.

The town of Nenzing in Vorarlberg has taken a big step towards the future with renewed street lighting and the intelligent InCity lighting management system. Zumtobel Group Services consulted and supported the complete development and implementation of the smart control system for the 6000 inhabitants city. 

LEDVANCE continues to advance light by announcing the world’s first HomeKit™-enabled smart Filament A19 bulb. The HomeKit-enabled SYLVANIA SMART+™ Soft White A19 Filament Bulb (MSRP $31.99) combines the future of the Smart Home with the retro look of the past,and is available for pre order for Spring 2018 delivery on Amazon.

The 23rd edition of the Guangzhou International Lighting Exhibition (GILE), the most influential and comprehensive lighting and LED event in Asia, is set to take place from 9 ‒ 12 June 2018, at the China Import and Export Fair Complex in Guangzhou, China.

Smart lighting start-up Gooee has extended its North American reach to Canada by partnering with Stanpro Lighting Systems, a lighting manufacturer for the Canadian market located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.